“By working together we can solve our problems. I'm Frank Guinta and that's why I'm running for Congress.”

These words serve as the last sentence used by former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta in announcing he wants a rematch with Carol Shea-Porter in hopes of reclaiming the First Congressional U.S. House seat he was edged out of in 2012.

Guinta pushed Shea-Porter out of office in 2010.

In making his video announcement this week, Guinta went to great lengths to paint himself as a problem-solver — someone committed to his ideals but willing to work across the aisle.

But is he the latter or more the former? After watching the video, reading his interview with the Union Leader newspaper and other reports, voters might be confused. And we don't blame them.

Right out of the gate Guinta said he would have voted a week earlier with the majority of House members looking to defund ObamaCare. The vote was 230-189, virtually along party lines and destined go nowhere in the Senate. That means if the House holds its hard line, a government shutdown lies ahead.

That would be disastrous and would backfire on House Republicans. It might also torpedo GOP hopes of taking over the U.S. Senate in 2014. In New Hampshire it could be enough to assure the re-election of Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, whose polls numbers are shaky.

Guinta's apparent allegiance to the cause gave the state Democratic Party the perfect opening to again paint Guinta as a right-wing extremist.

From State Democratic Party spokesman Harrell Kirstein: “It took less than 24 hours (after announcing his candidacy) for Guinta to betray his phony new brand and revert to his reckless Tea Party ideology.

Kirstein understates the case when he says a government shutdown would hurt veterans, the military and “programs vital to the middle class.” It will do much more harm.

Having endorsed Guinta in 2010, we would like to think better of his effort to unseat Shea-Porter.

We agree with Guinta when he says in his online video: “The news out of Washington is pretty depressing these days. Politicians in both parties seem more interested in fighting than making tough decisions and solving our problems. It's so disappointing.”

“But you know what? We can find common ground without sacrificing our principles. It just requires working together for the same goal. That's how we do it here in New Hampshire.”

Unfortunately, what is missing from Guinta's message and what has been rejected by Shea-Porter is an attempt to find a middle ground on ObamaCare.

In past editorials we have criticized Republicans who have been slow to offer an alternative. And likewise, Shea-Porter deserves condemnation for remaining blind to the havoc the Affordable Care Act will rain down.

What New Hampshire and Congress need is someone who can strike a deal. Someone who can bring both sides together with an alternative plan.

This may very well be Guinta. But if it is, we aren't yet seeing it.

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Readers should make no mistake about our criticism of the Guinta campaign. As far right as the state Democratic Party tries to paint Guinta, Shea-Porter deserves to be billed as a far-left ideologue.

Shea-Porter remains blind to polls showing New Hampshire voters disapprove of ObamaCare. In fact, polls show a majority of voters in New Hampshire have never approved of ObamaCare. But as much as the Granite State opposes the Affordable Care Act, they know the system is in need of repair.

Unless Guinta's campaign can claim this middle ground we expect him to be challenged in the GOP primary — and successfully so.